INTERACT FORUM

More => Old Versions => Media Jukebox => Topic started by: Jaundiced Eye on June 19, 2002, 07:34:11 am

Title: Home Media Server Devices
Post by: Jaundiced Eye on June 19, 2002, 07:34:11 am
Toshiba is releasing a $1400 home media center server that runs wirelessly over 802.11 technology:

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,101965,00.asp
Title: RE:Home Media Server Devices
Post by: JimH on June 19, 2002, 07:41:30 am
Here's anther link:

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/pc/pc_prodList.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0146945834.1024501474@@@@&BV_EngineID=hadcegflgeimbfekcghcfmfdgll.0&comm=CS&plin=Appliance%20Servers&pfam=Magnia%20SG20%20Wireless%20Media%20Center
Title: RE:Home Media Server Devices
Post by: claudio on June 19, 2002, 08:02:09 am
Here is another interesting digital music new product from Toshiba. An portable harddisk base mp3/wma player with removable HD. Looks small and cool ( the design is clearly iPod inspired )

http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/0206/18.toshiba.php

Claudio
Title: RE:Home Media Server Devices
Post by: JimH on June 19, 2002, 08:10:20 am
I read a couple days ago that Toshiba is the supplier of the hard drives for the Ipod and that SonicBlue (Rio) was unable to get enough to make a similar device.
Title: RE:Home Media Server Devices
Post by: Mysticeti on June 20, 2002, 08:16:44 pm
An 800 lb gorilla enters the arena

http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-938110.html

Listening to: 'Levon' from 'Madman Across The Water' by 'Elton John' on Media Jukebox
Title: RE:Home Media Server Devices
Post by: Jaundiced Eye on June 21, 2002, 11:25:17 pm
Yes, Microsoft has announced its Freestyle trial trial in this market.  But it has entered many, many markets without success.  The most recent example is XBox, which is a failure by MSFT standards.

MSFT embedded systems is also pathetic.
The Window CE software is nicknamed "WinCE" for a reason.
Microsoft is embarrassed by its "wireless" intiative, which is behind the times and revolves around warmed-over versions of WinCE
Remember that even where MSFT succeeds (typically, for software close to the platform O/S), it often starts out very klugey.

Does anyone know if the Freestyle-beta test is wireless?

I think this foray by MSFT into the home server market is too late.  Many, many companies are read to jump in.  I suspect that by this fall we will see many products hit this market and that it will be a common XMAS present in 2003, although perhaps it would be 2004 before the prices drop enough to hit a sweet spot.

Long-term, if a company like JRiver succeeds in bundling its product with a home server product (as MM or Roxio succeeded in bundling with CD burners), I don't even see why you would need a DVD player or CD player in your living room or family room.

Toshiba is correct to jump into this market, albeit at a nosebleed price.
Title: RE:Home Media Server Devices
Post by: jaundiced eye on August 27, 2002, 05:32:30 pm
1.  recent article on wireless home entertainment that may be of interest.

http://www.80211-planet.com/columns/article/0,4000,1781_1450881,00.html

2.  Has anyone tried hooking a 802.11/ethernet bridge to an audiotron, Sonic Blue digital receiver and then into an 802.11 network to get music from your home computer?
Title: RE:Home Media Server Devices
Post by: SeanC on August 27, 2002, 07:18:02 pm
Yep, this is how I run my Audiotron.  If Linksys could put out a working 802.11 bridge to save their lives, it would be great.  802.11 is clearly a workable technology for this, but Linksys is not a good implementation.
Title: RE:Home Media Server Devices
Post by: Jaundiced Eye on August 29, 2002, 09:42:49 am
Paul,

Thanks for your response.  Sorry not to have gotten right back to you.  If the Linksys ethernet/802.11 bridge is questionable, does anyone else have a decent technology?

Jaundiced Eye
Title: RE:Home Media Server Devices
Post by: Cephlen on August 29, 2002, 10:59:29 am

Does anyone know if the Freestyle-beta test is wireless?


Freestyle is a modified version of XP.  It is being packaged with computer systems being sold by other manufacturers.  So, an OS itself is not wireless, but the OS does support wireless devices.

I wont comment on your other off topic MS bashing.. if you didnt know the above, then you obviously dont know much about MS..
Title: RE:Home Media Server Devices
Post by: Jaundiced Eye on August 29, 2002, 01:24:54 pm
SeanC,

Thanks for your response. Sorry not to have gotten right back to you. If the Linksys ethernet/802.11 bridge is questionable, does anyone else have a decent technology?

Jaundiced Eye